Business Transition

“I feel like I’m molting,” I found myself saying to a friend earlier this week. Have you ever experienced that—you experience so many big changes in a compressed time period, that you feel like you’ve shed a layer of skin, or maybe two or three? I recently celebrated a birthday—my 54th trip around the sun… [Read More]

“I’ve often talked about how important ritual is in providing a foundation – a foundation from which we can then change if we choose to.” This message is from Lisë Stewart, founder of the Galliard FBA Institute.

Setting Sail/Sale! Jake was so excited—an offer had come across his desk, by way of his attorney, that fulfilled most of his wishlist! The investor company said all the right things: they believed in the mission and vision, wanted to keep the employees in place and would keep the business operating from the small town where… [Read More]

“The Moment of Truth” Presented by Diane McNally, Ph.D. It is possible to transition team members in a dignified fashion while maintaining the integrity of the company’s values, minimizing disruption, and mitigating financial and reputational risk. Help your clients to stop agonizing and start taking action to transition “problem employees” out of their organizations. Or,… [Read More]

“I love you… but I love him more!” What to do when parents have clear favorites. Twenty years ago, George and Eva started a very successful manufacturing company, and now their oldest son, Carl, is preparing to take over from his father. Carl is hardworking, sincere, intelligent and strategic. He is also analytical, focused and serious… [Read More]

Webinar Recording: “Leadership Transition: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly,” presented by Scott Phillips, TruNorth Partners. This information is for members of the Galliard Family Business Advisor Institute – please sign in:

Change is hard. It is often the harbinger of stress, confusion, aimlessness, and at its worst—anarchy amongst employees. Change can also be a life-giver, a refresh button, a savior to a dying organization, and the only way back to success or even functionality. The outcomes of organizational transitions or changes are completely saddled with the… [Read More]

A strategic way for private and family-owned companies to implement succession and sale strategies is through utilizing Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). With this method, the unique goals of the owners and company serve to focus our approach, as we assess, structure, and implement transactions for our clients. Critical to the ESOP opportunity is its flexibility. Sellers can control the means… [Read More]

How does one move into the late stage of life with our dignity intact? I have learned that this is not a state that one can create entirely independently. Rather, it is a delicate dance between willing, caring, compassionate co-creators of a social contract. I have seen rare, but beautiful examples such as one memorable… [Read More]

Historically community banks haven’t embraced their role in addressing the opportunities and challenges in ownership and management transition for family-owned and closely-held businesses. Rather than continuing to stand at arm’s length, there are several issues that community bankers need to take into consideration that would benefit their business clients and could mean new business opportunities… [Read More]